What makes a great Christmas shoebox?
June 03, 2024
There are many ways to pack a great Christmas shoebox—and almost all of them will bring joy to a child.
However, wouldn’t it be ideal if the items lasted a long time? If they provided joy for months or years—not days? If they didn’t end up on the road of a community living amongst landfills?
Being intentional with the items you include in your Christmas shoebox will not only impact the child who receives it, it can also help their families and the community as a whole.
So what makes a great Christmas shoebox? One that contains quality, lasting items that will bring joy, provide protection, or support the educational journey of a child.
THE BEST WOW ITEMS
- The Shoe That Grows
- Water bottle and/or filter
THE BEST PERSONAL CARE ITEMS
- Cotton washcloth
- Organic bar soap
- Bamboo toothbrush
- Reusable menstrual pads
THE BEST CLOTHING/ACCESSORIES ITEMS
- Cotton underwear
- Wool socks
- Backpack or tote
- Quality hat
THE BEST SCHOOL SUPPLIES ITEMS
- Notepad
- Pencils with sharpener and erasers
- Markers or crayons
THE BEST CRAFTS/ACTIVITIES ITEMS
- Jump rope
- Soccer ball and pump
- Sewing kit
THE BEST TOY ITEMS
- Wooden puzzle
- Stuffed animal that is durable
- Musical instrument
Deciding what to include in your shoebox can be challenging, but it’s worth the effort for the amount of joy you’ll provide a child during the holidays. We hope this list of high-impact, quality items helps you pack the best box possible this year!
THE SHOE THAT GROWS
$20.00
It’s estimated that over 300 million children around the world don’t have shoes. By including The Shoe That Grows in your Christmas shoebox, you can help change that!
The Shoe That Grows expands five sizes and lasts for years, making it a practical choice for your “wow” item. The adjustable shoe grows five sizes, lasts for years and is easy to clean. It has a compressed rubber sole, antibacterial synthetic upper, high grade velcro, and no mechanical parts or gears to break—perfect for sending to kids in your box.
Select the age range for the Christmas shoeboxes you’re sending and we’ll send you The Shoe That Grows in the best size for that age—the size that will allow for the most growth.
Not ready to order? Create a peer-to-peer fundraising page using our free platform and raise support for your order of The Shoe That Grows.
Order a sample shoe to make sure The Shoe That Grows is the right fit for your shoebox.
Not packing boxes yourself? Donate to send shoes through our partners who are packing shoeboxes this season.